Korea's1st Domed Baseball Stadium Unveiled

Korea's first domed baseball stadium in Guro, southwest Seoul was unveiled on Tuesday.

"Korea now has a long-awaited all-weather domed baseball stadium," an official of the Seoul Metropolitan Government said at a press preview on Tuesday.

The stadium, dubbed Gocheok Sky Dome, has a capacity of about 20,000 people and took six years to complete. It was initially planned as a stadium for amateur baseball players after the baseball stadium in Dongdaemun, central Seoul was demolished.

However, plans changed several times and the stadium was eventually turned into a venue for professional baseball. Due to the constant changes, the money spent was increased sharply from W40.8 billion to W194.8 billion (US$1=W1,184).

It is the first domed stadium with transparent sound-proof panels, which effectively block noise from the stadium to the outside. And it also houses a fitness center, swimming pool and facilities for football and basketball.

It is likely that the Nexen Heroes, currently based in Mok-dong in western Seoul, will use the stadium but there are still unresolved issues between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Heroes over relocation and fees for using the stadium.

When the professional baseball season is over, the stadium will be open to amateur baseball games or it can be hired as a concert venue.

Boy band EXO will hold a concert there in December.